Bereavement Support Services

Families who have experienced the death of a child or pregnancy loss at IWK are offered IWK bereavement follow-up services. IWK bereavement care professionals are available to grieving families over the course of a year.

How we help

IWK Bereavement Support offers help in a number of ways:

• Conversations about the family’s grief experience and how family members are managing.
• Information about community grief resources available, including grief support groups, grief counsellors, pamphlets and books, web resources, and summer camps for grieving children.
• Our annual mail-out is sent to grieving families in November with information on how to manage holidays and seasons of celebration.
• Virtual grief groups for children and youth.

Families may decline IWK bereavement services at any time. For more information, contact the IWK Bereavement Coordinator at 902.470.8942.

Parental grief
It’s been said that the death of a child is the most devastating loss that one can experience. When a child dies, it changes your world as you are thrown into personal chaos. It can be hard to relate to others as you move through this time, and normal tasks and routines can seem overwhelming. Everyone experiences their grief differently, and acknowledging that there is no script for healing can help alleviate some of the pressure people feel in the early stages of their grief. Healing takes place best in a supportive community. Bereaved parents are encouraged to reach out for support that offers empathy, compassion, and fellowship. For more information on parental grief support resources and service in your community, please contact the IWK Bereavement Coordinator at 902.470.8942.
 
Child and teen grief
As parents or caregivers, there’s a natural tendency to want to find solutions for children’s pain or to protect them from it altogether. However, when a death happens in a family you cannot fix it. When a child asks questions about the death, you may naturally tend to begin talking and stop listening, in an attempt to protect them from the pain. However, the most important thing you can do to help your child or teen in their grief is to listen to them and encourage them to talk about what has happened. You cannot undo the death or to take away the pain, but what you can do is let them know that you know they are grieving and honour their grief by allowing them to have it. Children and teen's grief often differs from adult grief. Children’s expression of grief differs depending on age and developmental stage. It’s important to acknowledge this when a death has occurred so children and teens are properly supported in their grief. Bereavement services at the IWK Health Centre include resources for both teens and children. For more information on child and teen grief support resources and services in your community, please contact the IWK Bereavement Coordinator at 902.470.8942.

Virtual Grief Groups for Children and Youth
Join an 8-week virtual grief group for children and youth that includes songwriting, mindfulness activities, and group discussion.

Co-facilitated by:

Linden Hardie (she/her), Registered Social Worker

Bereavement Coordinator, Pediatric Advanced Care Team, IWK Health

Meaghan Jackson (she/her), Certified Music Therapist/Registered Counselling Therapist Candidate

Volunteer, IWK Health

For children and youth ages 7-18 who reside NS, NB, and PEI who have experienced the death of a significant person (i.e. parent, caregiver, sibling, etc.)

Concurrent support is provided by phone/video to the parents/caregivers of the children and youth (pre-scheduled, not at the same time as the group).

Registration Process

1. Complete the registration form here or by emailing a completed copy to BereavementServices@iwk.nshealth.ca
2. If there is a space available, you will be contacted by a member of PACT to schedule an intake call.
3. Once the intake is complete, you will receive a welcome package which includes a consent form, group guidelines, and a pre-group survey.
4. You will then receive a group supply kit in the mail and be contacted to schedule the first parent(s)/caregiver(s) support session.
5. The Zoom link for the grief group will be emailed to participants at the address provided on the registration.

*If the group is full or the child/youth does not meet eligibility criteria, you will be contacted by a member of PACT to be added to the waitlist and/or to receive additional resources and support.

For more information, contact Pediatric Advanced Care Team at 902-470-7262.